Player lay-offs no cause for alarm - agent

Although the Professional Footballers' Association yesterday published the names of 586 players, including 122 in the Premiership, who will be out of contract at the end of the month and available on free transfers, a leading agent does not believe the game's bubble has burst.

The list, which includes the likes of Paolo di Canio, Jody Morris, Keith Gillespie and Ian Taylor, represents 20 per cent of the total number of professionals in England and is an increase of 24 on last year.

Gordon Taylor, the PFA's chief executive, has already expressed fears that around 200 players could be forced to seek alternative forms of employment by the start of next season.

With the collapse of the transfer market and an apparent lack of funds in the game generally, the assumption is that players' agents have been as adversely affected as anyone. But that is far from the case according to Jon Smith, who runs First Artists, one of the country's biggest agencies.

"The [football] industry doesn't have a problem other than one of financial management," Smith said. "It was a recipient of a television deal worth £1.3bn not so long ago, which it spent - and then some - in 18 months. But the crowds are bigger than ever; the overseas television viewing figures are bigger than ever, so it's a big success other than an over-proliferation of people feeding off the game.

"When the new television deal is in place, which will be worth around the same, and given that it should be managed much better financially, then the industry will be fine."

Meanwhile, Everton are at the forefront of two moves which could dramatically change the Premier League's transfer system. At the League's summer conference later this week they will propose that transfer fees be paid over the length of a player's contract.

At the moment, 50 per cent of any fee has to be paid upfront, with the rest in the next 12 months. An alteration of this kind will clearly help the less well-off clubs in the top flight who cannot compete with the richest clubs at present.

Everton will also be backing a proposal from Birmingham to allow loan deals between Premier League clubs. Currently clubs in the top flight cannot borrow players from each other, only from Nationwide League clubs.

FOOTBALL'S SCRAPHEAP: THE PROFESSIONALS LOOKING FOR A JOB

BARCLAYCARD PREMIERSHIP

Arsenal: Jermaine Brown, Oleg Luzhny.

Aston Villa: Michael Husbands, Leon Hylton, John McGrath, Ian Taylor, Alan Wright.

Birmingham City: Clint Davies, Jonathan Hutchinson, Andy Marriott , Tommy Mooney, Steve Vickers.

Blackburn Rovers: Henning Berg, James Corbett, Darren Dunning, Keith Gillespie, Darren Hockenhull, Marc Richards.

Bolton Wanderers: Chris Armstrong, Christopher Downey, Colin Hendry, Leam Richardson, Paul Warhurst.

Charlton Athletic: Jesper Blomqvist, Tahar El Khalej, Robbie Mustoe, John Robinson.

Chelsea: Jean Anis, Scott Cousins, Ed de Goey, Rhys Evans, Albert Ferrer, Jody Morris, Andrew Ross, Robert Wolleaston.

Everton: Steven Beck, David Carney, George Pilkington, Juliano Rodrigo.

Fulham: John Collins, Lucas Cornwell, Bjarne Goldbaek, Dave Shevel.

Leeds United: Jacob Burns, Thomas Newey.

Leicester City: Jonathan Ashton, Darren Eadie, Tim Flowers, Karl Lewis, Ashley Lyth, Stefan Oakes, Michael Price, Martin Reeves, Simon Royce, Jonathan Stevenson, Nicky Summerbee, Graeme Walton.

Liverpool: Pegguy Arphexad, Patrik Berger, Bernard Diomede, Vegard Heggem, Stephen McNulty, Mark Peers.

Man City: Brian Murphy, Stephen Paisley.

Man United: John Cogger, David May, Kalam Mooniaruck, John Rankin, Lee Roche.

Middlesbrough: Arturo Bernhardt, Alen Boksic, Ben Roberts, Tony Vidmar.

Newcastle United: John Karelse, Joseph Kendrick, Damon Robson.

Portsmouth: Jason Crowe, Lee Molyneaux, Luke Nightingale, Thomas White.

Southampton: Kevin Davies.

Tottenham Hotspur: Steffen Freund, Gavin Kelly, Teddy Sheringham, Alton Thelwell.

Wolverhampton Wanderers: Michael Branch, Mohammed Camara, Kenny Coleman, Ludovic Pollet.

NATIONWIDE LEAGUE

FIRST DIVISION

Bradford City: Andrew Lee, Claus Jorgensen, Andrew Myers, Craig Fishlock, Gus Uhlenbeek, Jon Worsnop, Gary Walsh, Juanjo Carricondo, Mark Danks, Peter Atherton, Robert Molenaar, Rob Morgan, Keith Brodie.

Burnley: Anthony Shandran, Andrew Waine, Lee Briscoe, Earl Davis, Nik Michopoulos, Steve Davis, Gordon Armstrong, Ian Cox, Graham Branch, Mark Rasmussen, Marlon Beresford.

Cardiff City: Andy Legg, Andrew Jordan, Fan Zhiyi, Gareth Ainsworth, Leo Fortune-West, Mark Walton, Martyn Giles, Simon Heal, Steve Jenkins.

Coventry City: Antonio Gallieri, Fabien Debec, Gary Montgomery, Brian Ford, Kirk Miller, Robert Betts.

Crewe Alexandra: Colin Cramb, David Walton, Neil Sorvel, Rodney Jack, Wayne Collins.

Crystal Palace: Alex Kolinko, Robert Smith, Steven Thomson, William Antwi.

Derby County: Branko Strupar, Fabrizio Ravanelli, Craig Burley, Ian Evatt, Marvin Robinson, Matt O'Halloran, Patrick Bannister, Rob Lee.

Gillingham: Roland Edge, Simon Osborn, Ty Gooden.

Ipswich Town: Andy Marshall, Alun Armstrong, James Pullen, Lee Beevers, Mark Venus, Martijn Reuser, Nabil Abidallah, Robert Dickinson.

Millwall: Goma Lambu, Richard Barnard, Steve Claridge, Stuart Booth.

Norwich City: none.

Nottingham Forest: Emmet Peyton, Jack Lester, Jay Birch, Jon Hjelde, Mickael Antoine-Curier, Tony Vaughan.

Preston North End: Colin Murdock.

Reading: Adrian Viveash, Anthony Rougier, Steve Warren, Phil Whitehead, Sammy Igoe.

Rotherham United: Daniel Hudson, David Artell, Ian Gray, Jose Miranda, Marvin Bryan.

Sheffield United: Gary Kelly, Ben Doane, Grant Smith, Lewis Killeen, Paul Hurrell, Ricky Howarth, Rob Kozluk, Rob Nugent, Rob Ullathorne, Ryan Mallon, Simon Tracey.

Stok: Bjarni Gudjonsson, Lee Mills, Mark Williams, Peter Handyside, Steve Banks.

Sunderland: Clifford Byrne, Keith Graydon, Jon Kennedy, Stefan Schwarz, Craig Turns.

Walsall: Danny Sonner, Darren Wrack, Anthony Barras, David Zdrillic, Gavin Ward, Martin O'Connor, Matt Carbon.

Watford: Allan Nielsen, Barrie Matthews,Dominic Foley, Fabian Forde, Tommy Smith, Stephen Glass, Matthew Langston, Neil Cox, Neil Saunders, Nicky Williams.

West Bromwich Albion: Bob Taylor, Brian Jensen, Jordao, Des Lyttle.

West Ham United: Gary Breen, Paolo di Canio, Ezomo Iriekpen, Scott Minto, John Moncur, Raimond van der Gouw, Nigel Winterburn.

Wigan Athletic: Paul Santus.

Wimbledon: Ian Selley, Christopher Willmott, Michael Hughes, Tommaso Berni.

SECOND DIVISION

AFC Bournemouth: Andrew Petterson, Chukwunyeaka Eribenne, John Purches, Narada Bernard.

Barnsley: Bruce Dyer, Leo Bertos, Mike Sheron, Richard Carrington, Rory Fallon.

Blackpool: Ben Thornley, Garry Mclnally, Graham Fenton, Ian Hughes, Jamie Milligan, John Hills, John O'Kane, Michael Theoklitos, Paul Dalglish.

Brentford: Mark Williams, Leon Constantine, Jay Lovett, Rizwan Rehman, Martin Rowlands.

Brighton & Hove Albion: Simon Rodger, Paul Kitson.

Bristol City: Benjamin Cleverley, Keith Millen, Mike Stowell, Peter Beadle.

Chesterfield: Jonathan Howard, Marcus Ebdon, Martyn Booty, Rob Edwards, Shayne Bradley.

Colchester United: Alan White, Kevin Rapley, Mark Canham, Mark Warren, Mike Edwards, Patrick Baldwin, Richard McKinney, Bobby Bowry, Scott Fitzgerald.

Grimsby Town: Tony Gallimore, Christopher Thompson, Georges Santos, John McDermott, Stacy Coldicott, Steve Livingstone, Steve Croudson.

Hartlepool United: Gordon Simms, Gordon Watson, Brian Ross, James Sharp, Tommy Widdrington.

Luton Town: Aaron Skelton, Alan Kimble, Carl Emberson, Carl Griffiths, Peter Holmes, Duncan Jupp, Mark Ovendale.

Notts County: Craig Ireland, Daniel Stone, Ian Richardson, Richard Holmes, Richard Liburd, Saul Deeney.

Oldham Athletic: Anthony Carss, David Miskelly, Carlo Corazzin, Wayne Gill.

Peterborough United: Jason Lee.

Plymouth Argyle: Joseph Broad, Kieran McAnespie , Oswaldo Lopes, Paul Bernard, Stuart Malcolm.

Port Vale: Alexander Gibson, Christopher Gowan, John Durnin, Matt Carragher, Phil Charnock, Rae Ingram, Sean McClare.

Queen's Park Rangers: Aziana Doudou Ebeli Mbombo,Brett Angell,Christopher Plummer,Gino Padula,Danny Murphy,David Wattley, Karl Connolly, Lyndon Duncan, Oliver Burgess, Patrick Gradley,

Rushden & Diamonds: Adam Sollitt, Dean Holdsworth, Gary Setchell, Mark Peters,

Sheffield Wednesday: Ashley Westwood, Calem Connolly, Tony Crane, Danny Maddix, David Burrows, Michele Di Piedi, Phil O'Donnell, Simon Donnelly, Trond Soltvedt,

Stockport County: Anthony Kielthy, Andrew Thomas, Gareth Walsh, Glynn Hancock, Haydn Eames, Michael Ogden, Peter Wild,

Swindon Town: Adam Willis, Gareth Edds,Danny Invincible,Daren Dykes, Keith O'Halloran, Kevin Halliday, Nathan Edwards,

Tranmere Rovers: Andy Parkinson, Graham Allen, Perry Taylor, Stuart Barlow,

Wrexham: Daniel Bennett, Hector Sam, Kristian Rogers, Scott Green, Stephen Thomas, Wayne Phillips,

Wycombe Wanderers: Paul McCarthy,

THIRD DIVISION

Boston: David Town, James Gould, Mark Angel, Nick Conroy, Paul Bastock, Paul Fewings, Peter Costello.

Bristol Rovers: Vitalijs Astafjevs,Trevor Challis,Scott Howie,Bradley Allen,Lewis Hogg,Mark McKeever,Kevin Austin.

Bury: Edward Tarsusugil, Jon Newby, Marc Whiteman, Matt Barrass, Nicky Hill, Steve Redmond.

Cambridge United: Anthony Scully, Daryl Bourgeois, David Theobald, Graham Rush, Omer Riza, Owen Paynter.

Carlisle United: Jon McCarthy, Marc Nixon, Adam Thwaites, Luke Weaver.

Cheltenham: Tony Naylor, Julian Alsop, Lee Williams, Neil Howarth, Richard Kear, Russell Milton, Steve Jones.

Darlington Town: Adam Reed, Mark Ford, Paul Campbell, Richard Hodgson, Simon Betts, Stuart Whitehead.

Doncaster Rovers: Alan Morgan, Barry Miller, Gareth Owen, Keith Foy, Stuart Nelson, Tristan Whitman.

Huddersfield Town: Adrian Moses, Chris Holland, Eddie Youds, Gareth Evans, Jon Dyson, Kenny Irons, Kevin Sharp, Nat Brown, Simon Baldry, Thomas Heary.

Hull City: Jamie Heard, Lawrie Dudfield, Lee Philpott.

Kidderminster Harriers: Hugh McAuley, Ian Foster.

Leyton Orient: Andrew Harris, Carl Hutchings, John Martin, Scott Barrett.

Lincoln City: Adam Buckley,Ben Sedgemore,Chris Ward, Adie Mike, Richard Logan.

Macclesfield: Ben Abbey, David Eaton, John Askey, Lee Hardy, Lee Martin, Paul Aldridge, Paul O'Neill.

Mansfield Town: Andrew White, Keith Welch, Scott Sellars.

Northampton Town: Chris Marsh, Daryl Burgess, Duncan Spedding, Jeremy Gill, John Frain, Marco Gabbiadini, Nathan Abbey, Paul McGregor, Richard Hope.

Oxford United: David Oldfield, David Savage, Ian McCaldon, Paul Powell, Roy Hunter, Steve Basham.

Rochdale: Gareth Griffiths, John Baker, Matt Doughty, Michael Oliver, Neil Bennett, Paul Simpson, Steve Smith.

Scunthorpe United: Ian Kilford, James Cotterill, Kim Grant, Martin Carruthers, Nathan Stanton, Paul Wheatcroft, Peter Beagrie, Richard Kell, Rob Taylor, Scott Brough.

Southend United: Brett Darby, Barrington Belgrave,Daniel Gay, Daniel Lunan,Gavin Strachan, Damon Searle,Daryl Flahavan, Mark Beard, Mark Rawle, Stephen Broad.

Swansea City: Andrew Mumford, David Moss, Gareth Phillips, James Thomas, Jamie Wood, John Williams, Kevin Nugent , Kieron Durkan, Kristian O'Leary, Lee Jenkins, Lenny Johnrose, Matt Murphy, Neil Sharp, Roberto Martinez, Roger Freestone, Steve Watkin, Terry Evans.

Torquay United: Gary Brabin, Kevin Dearden, Paul Holmes, Sean Hankin.

Yeovil Town: James Aggrey.

York City: Christian Fox, Chris Smith, Craig Wilding, Gary Hobson, Graham Potter, Jonathan Collinson, Lee Nogan, Paul Talbot, Tom Cowan.